Southern Speedway Enthusiasts Take Out Top Honours at National Event

Southland motorsport drivers Rolly Lemin and Coleman Stoddart picked up gold at the annual New Zealand Burnout competition ‘Rapanats’ last weekend.

It was the first time since the competition had been running (2019), that the trophies had come south, in what was described as the biggest burnout event in New Zealand.

Rolly has been in the motorsport scene for the past five years and last year when he entered the event he blew up his motor.

After spending all last winter rebuilding it to give the 1981 Mk5 Ford Cortina more power, his hard work paid off - claiming top honours at the ‘Rev South’ in Invercargill at Christmas and now the title in Masterton over Easter as well.

Rolly won the NA (natural aspirated) V8 class, while Coleman from Dunrobin won the 6-cylinder class with his 2003 Ford Falcon - at the event which attracted over 2500 spectators and 60 entrants.

Around seven Southlanders entered the Rapanats competition, and Rolly had his 16-year-old son AJ as his co-driver.

The pair spend almost every spare waking hour most evenings working on the Cortina and say that motorsport is fast growing in popularity.

“People are starting to realise how much of a sport it is.  It’s a real skill and there is huge excitement in the crowd with more and more people coming to watch.”

The self employed mechanic said motorsport was a real lifestyle and the single father was thankful to some big sponsors to enable his dream to come true.

The summer season has now wound up but Rolly will be back showing off his skills at Lawrence in September where he’s been invited to a women’s only burnout competition.

“The girls can definitely pedal their cars,” he said.